Alter Solum

Having passed by Alter Solum’s sandwich board with handwritten menu items for months, I was happy to finally have the weird random opportunity to eat there with my friend Jeff.
I won’t go in to detail; I suggest reading Jeff’s review because it’s what I would’ve said about the place too. I’m assuming he gave 4 stars because he really liked his meal (a buttery, cheesy clam pasta). My ravioli was teetering on below average so I’m only giving 2 stars. It lacked taste and the cheesy center was not melted enough. But since I skipped dinner that night, then drank many alcoholic beverages, the pasta dish was just what I needed at that time.
Best parts about the dining experience:
— their bread was really good
— odd atmosphere and interesting characters
— they have a collection of possibly a few hundred used CDs that you can peruse while waiting for your meal and I’m guessing they’re for sale.
— they have many choices on their menu an all are at good prices
Worst part of the experience:
— you can smoke indoors and the guy sitting near us was smoking. (Alright so Jeff and I did light one up as well.) I’ve admitted that I’m a casual smoker when I drink. But I hate smoking in enclosed areas because smoke stinks and it clings to your clothes, hair and body.
Our meal of 2 pasta dishes and 1 can of soda was $ 20 and that included tip.
It’s good to know that this place serves food, especially if you find yourself starving in downtown after the clubs close.

Stumbling (after an evening at Bar35) around Chinatown in the wee hours (it was more like 10PM) of the night we fell upon the most random eatery — Alter Solum. My friend Gina said she wanted to check out a late night eating place (that just opened in November) on the corner of River and King.
«Lets try this spot» she said.
«what spot?» I replied…
she then pointed towards an open door a few shops diamond head from the corner. Scratching my head I questioned her again… In front of us in between graffiti tags of all shapes, sizes and perversions was the unassuming door to On King art studio. The open door led to a dark and rickety stairwell which ascended into the unknown — nothing there suggested an eatery existed or ever did on the spot. in the corner, on the ground behind the door was a dilapidated food menu that looked to be in such disuse that it could have been a relic from a forgotten era.
«There!» Gina exclaimed «you see!» as she pointed to the sign.
Reluctant and still a bit puzzled — we went in. at the top of the stairs to the left was the doorway, we poked our heads in and I was still confused — on the surface the place looked like a warehouse or ghettoish art gallery not a eatery. The deeper in we went the more it began to feel like a portal to the Rave scene of the 1990s. Techno/​Trance (or Is it called something else these days?) music was cutting the smoky air, several Hot Topic styled young-​ins wandered around and in the center of the room was a guy playing with a plastic sword — demonstrating his prowess I guess… Oh how I wished that thing had glowed.
This is not a typical eating joint in any sense of the word. The counter at the bar was littered with all types of randomness, (nothing shocking — just weird) a screwdriver next to the ketchup jars, dungeon flyers atop of rags atop of a Scissors, etc. we sat and ordered the gnocchi (they were out) from the pierced, proprietor of the establishment — so I opted for the clams and pasts (I hope I would live) and she had the safe dish … ravioli.
After 15 min of watching the chef (the same pierced, proprietor) cook our dish (the kitchen is in the same room) the meals arrived in tinfoil containers. I have got to say the clams and pasta was amazing. Amazing in the sense that it was just perfect for a late night, after the bar pig out. With a half stick of butter and two fist fulls of parmesan heaved into the dish you can’t go wrong. Gina’s Ravioli (which was microwaved) was ok, but making up for the homogeny of her tomato sauce was the fabulous garlic bread that accompanied the meal.
Over all… I think I will return to Alter Solum; the next late night I find myself wandering around Chinatown in the wee hours. If you are into eating as an random adventure as well as a late night necessity this place is for you. the food was fairly good but it was the questionable atmosphere that was well worth it. Alter Solum is open nightly (6 — 5 am [or so they say] closed Sunday), BYOB.